Birthday Swap 2020/2021
03-13-2020, 06:41 AM
#181
Super Member
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: Portage, Michigan
Posts: 7,402
JENNR8R, I saw you posting on the main page and commented. What more can we say expect we are proud to have you as one of "us".
NZQuilter, your package is in the mail!. Fingers are crossed that 7 days will be sufficient!
NZQuilter, your package is in the mail!. Fingers are crossed that 7 days will be sufficient!
03-13-2020, 06:55 AM
#182
Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2017
Location: SW Michigan
Posts: 487
Hi Friends! My week has been a whirlwind. I have two daughters, one in her Junior year of college and one in grad school. I started quilting about 18 years ago after I took a sewing class. I made my two girls matching dresses which took me forever to make and then they grew and couldn't wear them again! That's when I started looking at making quilts. The quilt can give so much more enjoyment time and be useful for much longer. But since I had two little girls I was making maybe one quilt a year which was usually a gift for someone. Then the girls hit high school and college ages and I had more time and I jumped in enthusiastically! And selfishly. I wanted to keep some of my quilts! So in the past three years in addition to numerous tee shirt quilts (a big hit with my daughters and their friends) I made a twin and a queen comforter for guest room beds. I also joined this site which exposed me to so much and helped me push my boundaries by joining the Summer Block Swap, 2 of the Patriotic Swaps, 9 Patch, my first Boom. and this one.
Ah yes, the whirlwind -my college daughter and I had a great time earlier this week heading down to visit some caves in Southern Indiana and staying at the French Lick Resort. If any of you are in that area it is gorgeous and the resort was wonderful, It was rebuilt after a fire in 1902 so everything is so detailed, highly recommend. And the caves are spectacular - on one we even went on a boat ride inside the cavern. So glad I had some special time with her! Then we came back and wow - I'm sure you are all being affected by the coronavirus as well. For us it meant hearing her school was going to be virtual until Easter (re-evaluating first week in April) with the dorms totally closing. Wednesday was a flurry of emails every half hour from her school with information. Luckily we are only 45 minutes from the school so yesterday was spent going down and getting her stuff and some of her friends stuff to mail. While I love having my girls home - this isn't the way you want it to happen. We also need to rearrange the guest room to make it work for her virtual classes. And we might be getting some of her friends here who can't go home yet. My grad school student is also going to virtual classes but since she has an apartment there was no urgency involved. Although she is thinking of letting go of her lease and coming home sooner. Just so much information to assimilate.
I hope you are all dealing with the changes and challenges occurring this week. Have a great weekend!
Ah yes, the whirlwind -my college daughter and I had a great time earlier this week heading down to visit some caves in Southern Indiana and staying at the French Lick Resort. If any of you are in that area it is gorgeous and the resort was wonderful, It was rebuilt after a fire in 1902 so everything is so detailed, highly recommend. And the caves are spectacular - on one we even went on a boat ride inside the cavern. So glad I had some special time with her! Then we came back and wow - I'm sure you are all being affected by the coronavirus as well. For us it meant hearing her school was going to be virtual until Easter (re-evaluating first week in April) with the dorms totally closing. Wednesday was a flurry of emails every half hour from her school with information. Luckily we are only 45 minutes from the school so yesterday was spent going down and getting her stuff and some of her friends stuff to mail. While I love having my girls home - this isn't the way you want it to happen. We also need to rearrange the guest room to make it work for her virtual classes. And we might be getting some of her friends here who can't go home yet. My grad school student is also going to virtual classes but since she has an apartment there was no urgency involved. Although she is thinking of letting go of her lease and coming home sooner. Just so much information to assimilate.
I hope you are all dealing with the changes and challenges occurring this week. Have a great weekend!
03-13-2020, 09:07 AM
#183
Junior Member
Join Date: Sep 2019
Location: South Dakota
Posts: 141
IrishMom... your name makes me smile every time I see it.... I grew up in NW Indiana not far from Notre Dame. I never wanted to go there because it was to close to home for me... but as an adult I asked my mom if she thought I could have gone there and she said no so fast I couldn't stop laughing! No hesitation no nothing.... just no. My response was thanks mom... glad to know you think I'm so smart LOL!!!
03-13-2020, 04:15 PM
#184
Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2017
Location: SW Michigan
Posts: 487
Originally Posted by QuiltingLawyer
IrishMom... your name makes me smile every time I see it.... I grew up in NW Indiana not far from Notre Dame. I never wanted to go there because it was to close to home for me... but as an adult I asked my mom if she thought I could have gone there and she said no so fast I couldn't stop laughing! No hesitation no nothing.... just no. My response was thanks mom... glad to know you think I'm so smart LOL!!!
I picked the name for two reasons (1) I am part Irish and (2) we are a Notre Dame family!! My husband graduated from there and I went to SMC. Our two daughters followed our path -daughter 1 graduated from SMC and #2 is currently at ND. But both were/are in Marching Band so even if we don't have tickets to the game we are down there for all the pregame fun. It's a great school and a great community.
Last edited by QuiltnNan; 03-14-2020 at 02:55 AM. Reason: shouting/all caps
03-13-2020, 04:40 PM
#185
Super Member
Join Date: Aug 2016
Location: Kansas
Posts: 4,436
Irishmom's envelope arrived today. Thank you!
February 24: Patrick's Mom
February 25: WendyMcD
February 27: Lottie Parker
Janice McC
Wesing
Lauren Gilliland
MaryGPearce
February 28: Tinas3
Lum
February 29t: Macybaby
March 2: Quilting Lawyer
Djmat
Traveling Grandma
March 3: Crazy Connie
March 5: Hav4boys
Crispy_Frog
March 9: aborning
Gaijin
Nurseluanne0308
March 10: BarbaraKibler23
March 13: Irish Mom
February 24: Patrick's Mom
February 25: WendyMcD
February 27: Lottie Parker
Janice McC
Wesing
Lauren Gilliland
MaryGPearce
February 28: Tinas3
Lum
February 29t: Macybaby
March 2: Quilting Lawyer
Djmat
Traveling Grandma
March 3: Crazy Connie
March 5: Hav4boys
Crispy_Frog
March 9: aborning
Gaijin
Nurseluanne0308
March 10: BarbaraKibler23
March 13: Irish Mom
03-14-2020, 04:48 AM
#186
Super Member
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: East TN
Posts: 2,726
Good morning ladies -
I’ve been quilting since about 2009 I think. My wife had taken a class and was enjoying herself, but cutting fabric stressed her out. I’m a math nerd (and and accountant), so she asked me to help her with the pattern and cutting. Then next time she took a class, I went with her to do her cutting, but she and the teacher convinced me to take the whole class. I ended up buying a sewing machine on the spot and have been making quilts ever since. We mostly make them as gifts for friends and family, and I am in a group of Guy Quilters who sew for Quilts of Valor.
We adopted a baby girl in 2013 and she has completed our family. I have a thread dedicated to her titled “Why I Finally made a Storm at Sea (with pictures).” I can’t believe how fast the time has flown, but she is a joy every day and we love watching the process of her growing up. I think I am overdue to add some pictures to that thread. Oops!
My screen name comes from the fact that we sing. My wife is an excellent singer and has even done a CD. I’m a hack at it, but when I sing with her she makes me sound good. We both sing in the church choir and love doing it.
So our lives revolve around Emmaline and her schedule, church, and family. That leaves a wee bit of time for quilting. We always seem to have several in process. Right now I can think of a dozen or more that are in various stages of completion. If that pesky job wasn’t so demanding I could get a lot more quilting done.
I watched the swap last year and thought it would be a lot of fun to get the variety of all those little squares, so I have been waiting (kinda) patiently since the summer for this one to start. I started cutting as soon as I was approved to join, and used mostly FQ, so I have WAY more sets than I need for the swap. I will have to figure out how to deal with that later. In the meantime, I have all of your sets wrapped, and cards and envelopes are ready to go as soon as I get your addresses. I’m looking forward to the next 11 months of candy swapping.
Darren
I’ve been quilting since about 2009 I think. My wife had taken a class and was enjoying herself, but cutting fabric stressed her out. I’m a math nerd (and and accountant), so she asked me to help her with the pattern and cutting. Then next time she took a class, I went with her to do her cutting, but she and the teacher convinced me to take the whole class. I ended up buying a sewing machine on the spot and have been making quilts ever since. We mostly make them as gifts for friends and family, and I am in a group of Guy Quilters who sew for Quilts of Valor.
We adopted a baby girl in 2013 and she has completed our family. I have a thread dedicated to her titled “Why I Finally made a Storm at Sea (with pictures).” I can’t believe how fast the time has flown, but she is a joy every day and we love watching the process of her growing up. I think I am overdue to add some pictures to that thread. Oops!
My screen name comes from the fact that we sing. My wife is an excellent singer and has even done a CD. I’m a hack at it, but when I sing with her she makes me sound good. We both sing in the church choir and love doing it.
So our lives revolve around Emmaline and her schedule, church, and family. That leaves a wee bit of time for quilting. We always seem to have several in process. Right now I can think of a dozen or more that are in various stages of completion. If that pesky job wasn’t so demanding I could get a lot more quilting done.
I watched the swap last year and thought it would be a lot of fun to get the variety of all those little squares, so I have been waiting (kinda) patiently since the summer for this one to start. I started cutting as soon as I was approved to join, and used mostly FQ, so I have WAY more sets than I need for the swap. I will have to figure out how to deal with that later. In the meantime, I have all of your sets wrapped, and cards and envelopes are ready to go as soon as I get your addresses. I’m looking forward to the next 11 months of candy swapping.
Darren
03-14-2020, 08:02 PM
#187
Super Member
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: Portage, Michigan
Posts: 7,402
Darren, what a terrific story. It sounds like you have a full and very happy life. You will find places for your extra sets. I made 30 sets, so also have spares. Keep watching this thread. As the year progresses, folks will start posting photos of their 2.5" projects. I am ready for some new ideas.
Here is one I gifted this week. It is a baby sized version of the Pat Sloan "Traffic Jam" pattern. It is a freebee online and fast and easy. I did have to create some additional 2.5's so I could stay in the 1930s style.I think it finished at 46 X 46 or there about. I really should measure after each is finished.
Here is one I gifted this week. It is a baby sized version of the Pat Sloan "Traffic Jam" pattern. It is a freebee online and fast and easy. I did have to create some additional 2.5's so I could stay in the 1930s style.I think it finished at 46 X 46 or there about. I really should measure after each is finished.
03-16-2020, 01:23 PM
#188
Super Member
Join Date: Aug 2016
Location: Kansas
Posts: 4,436
WMUTeach's envelope arrived in the mail today. Thank you!
February 24: Patrick's Mom
February 25: WendyMcD
February 27: Lottie Parker
Janice McC
Wesing
Lauren Gilliland
MaryGPearce
February 28: Tinas3
Lum
February 29t: Macybaby
March 2: Quilting Lawyer
Djmat
Traveling Grandma
March 3: Crazy Connie
March 5: Hav4boys
Crispy_Frog
March 9: aborning
Gaijin
Nurseluanne0308
March 10: BarbaraKibler23
March 13: Irish Mom
March 16: WMUTeach
February 24: Patrick's Mom
February 25: WendyMcD
February 27: Lottie Parker
Janice McC
Wesing
Lauren Gilliland
MaryGPearce
February 28: Tinas3
Lum
February 29t: Macybaby
March 2: Quilting Lawyer
Djmat
Traveling Grandma
March 3: Crazy Connie
March 5: Hav4boys
Crispy_Frog
March 9: aborning
Gaijin
Nurseluanne0308
March 10: BarbaraKibler23
March 13: Irish Mom
March 16: WMUTeach
03-16-2020, 06:30 PM
#189
Super Member
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: Portage, Michigan
Posts: 7,402
Yea! The envelope arrived. I asked when I dropped it off at the post office when it should arrive and they said Monday! I am impressed with the USPO. Your day is coming soon. Hang on and then enjoy the party of opening all of those envelopes. It has always been such fun. Snap a photo and post so we can see your stash of little squares or envelopes.
